Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-18
. YOUTHFUL HERO.
rbe Daring Exploits of a BOY
Private of Is.
,-.oba,n Daosa in Philadelphia Times.

nv priyateS ana men ol nuHiple ram On
.atn sides during the war between the
| ctotes ~ suppose that even the world
,..o,, couId not contain the books" Not
10 Iaast distinguished OF these unnoted
heroes was the subject OF this sketch, to
/ .rhose bravery the safety OF Richmond
/ was perhaps in great measure due at the
. Sme Gen. Butler attempted the capture
| NJ that CITY in May, 1864.
FIov Wood, OF Yadkin county, n. O.,
/ enlisted as private ia the Confederate
amy before he was 10 years Of age. At
tna first battle of Manassas, or Bull Run,
he was wounded, and IN 1863 he was
.rons ferred from Wharton's North Caro-
Iina battalion to serve as courier to Briga-
der General X. +. Hoke. The stat officers
NJ Gen. Hoke, finding that Wood had no
advantages OF education, and that he was
yeFv desrous to improve himself, taught
him to read and write. and bright pupil
he nroyed himself TO be. In 1864, when
Wota was promoted TO Major General,
Vood was made division scout, posi-
ton for which he had proved that be
was we'll fitted, though he was then only
Is years old. Sometimes. however. he
made the very unusual error IN Judgment
q, capturing too many prisoners. Many
were his successful iOrays upon the Fed
oral outpOsts, and on one occasion, when
rendpr of nine men and brought them
safely into camp, he had to be told that
information, and not prisoners, was what
he mad been sent for, and that however
desirable the latter might be, the former
was often Of more Importance.
SAVING RICHMOND.
In Nav, 1864, when Gen. Butler landed
at Bermuda hundreds with two army
AcorDs, the Confederate forces at first in
his front were entirely insufficient to re-
sist successfully his march upon Rich
mond be advanced to the neighoOrhOod
of Drury's Bluff and, gong into position,
extended his lett until it seemed Inevi-
table tnat he would envelop the right of
the Confederate position and get posses
sion of the road to Richmond. This move
ment it was essential to check. But how?
The troops then at hand were not equal
TO the task, and to get reinforce
ments time was necessary. The question
was how to get this precious time. Gen.
Hoke, who commanded on the COnfeder-
ate right, determined TO attempt its solu-
tlon bv ruse as bold as unusual. Night
was not far off. and it was telt that If
Buffers further movement could be de-
layed until darkness fell all would be
we'll Calling up Wood, Gen. HOke ex-
planned to him the position fully, and
asked if he were willing to give his life,
If need be, to save Richmond.
Without hesitation the boy-for he was
hardly more-replied that he was. He
was then dressed in the uniform of a Fed
eral cavalryman aud ordered first TO get
In some way into the rear OF the Federal pO-
sition and then to ride boldly, as il coming
from the river, to Gen. Buffers headquar-
tiers and report TO MIN that the COnfeder-
ates were landing in heavy force on the
James riveI on his right and rear. This
done he was to ride away rapidly as ii
returning to bis post. without waiting to
be questioned closely. Wood, having
thorough knowledge OF the country, rode
off on his perilous errand. After he
had been gone for what seemed a
very long time, it was observed that the
threatening movement of the Eederals
ceased, and it was evident that there was
some change being made in their POSI-
tions. Shortly thereafter, to the surprise
of every one, no one expecting ever to see
him again, w GOD rode up safe and sound,
and, saluting Gen. Hoke. reported that he
had carried out his instr uctiOns to the let
ter. Meanwhile night had come on. Be-
fore next morning the Confederate re en-
1Orcements came up, and the result of the
subsequent battle OF Drury's Bluff and
the "bottling up'' of Butler at Bermuda
hundreds are we'll known.
The STORY VERIFIED.
Most of the few persons who were aware
OF what Wood had attempted could not
believe that 1t was possible for him to
have done as he said and to escape un-
harmed. But shortly after the close of
The war Gen. Hoke met Col. Niche, OF
Buffers stan, and asked ii Wood had re.
ported to them as related. Col. Niche
reported that cavalryman did ride up
TO their headquarters and made the re-
port stated, and that though be was
somewhat suspected OF being Confeder-
ate spy, he was not detained; that the
movement of their (Federal) left was ar
rested until the report could be investi-
CARED, and that when it was ascertained
10 be false it was too late to resume the
move that night.
fOr this and ether acts of gallantry
wood was made commissioned officer
ny PRESIDENT Davis, under authority of
law providing expressly for such cases.
But the brave fellow did not outlive the
struggle IN which he had borne himself so
well. He came to his death near the end
vi Inc war through treachery, and he met
u with the same fearlessness that had
characterized his previous career. After
tue evacuation OF Wilmington, in Febru-
airy, 1868, the Confederate forces lay for
short ume on the Northeast Cape Fear
IIver, ABOUT ten miles north OF that city.
Whlle they were there Wood was sent
uo"n the right bank of the main river to
OBTAIN information.
scouting around in the neighborhood o!
wilmington, in Brunswick county, he
met citizen, who invited him to his
mouse, and emphasized the invitation bv
SS9ulng: Some of your friends are there"
WOOD, sGspectiDg nothing, went with the
nian' ana when he entered the house
lOund himself confronted nv Federa;
Lieutenant and squad of soldiers, who
demanded his immediate surrender. For
reply, he snot dead the traitor VINO had
betrayed him, and endeavored to escape.
ne was shot down, however, but not, it
was SAID, until he mad killed or disabled
several OF his assailants. A sad and un.
.inlely end for one so young and so brave.
Mouest and unassuming as he was brave,
no one would have suspected this quiet,
Ietlring and rather diffident youth of
DelnS the hero he was.